"No. No, I'm alright," said Anne. The tea had been half cold and the chins had merely scraped her hand not cut it. The skin on her hands was thick. "But I'm so sorry about the cup... oh and it's the nice one too!"

"My John broke one years ago, now the set is even again." Lottie said picking up the fragments of the cup.

Anne gave Lottie a small, grateful smile and knelt down to help clean up.

"That's kind of you, dear, but I can manage." Lottie answered sitting back on her heels.

Anne sat back down. "Am I a bother? I can go if I'm in the way..." Before she destroyed something else.

"A bother? Nonsense. sit right there." An idea was forming in her head. "Would you like fresh tea?"

Anne felt relieved but blushed at the question. "Aye, Mrs Blacke, but maybe in a mug... I wouldn't want to destroy another cup..."

Lottie rose with a smile "Okay." The Blacke matriarch soon returned with a mug of fresh tea.

"Thank you, Mrs. Blacke," she said, taking the cup. "Can I help ye with owt around the 'ouse?" She didn't want to keep Mrs. Blacke from her work, and she very much wanted to extend her stay and the time she didn't have to think about going home.

The key turned in the keyhole of the front door and Bill stepped in. He stooped down to pick up an envelope, before entering the main room. "Oh, hello Annie," he said, before turning to Lottie. "Still no sign of Joe?"